Robert Saint John, Fentanyl Trafficking, NH 2024

CONCORD, NH – Robert Saint John, 32, of Laconia, is headed to federal prison for nearly four years after pleading guilty to trafficking fentanyl, a drug rapidly claiming lives across New Hampshire. The sentence, handed down today, sends a clear message – but will it be enough to stem the tide?

According to court records, Saint John, along with two unidentified accomplices, pooled their cash on May 31, 2017, for a drug run south. The trio drove from Belmont, New Hampshire, directly to Lawrence, Massachusetts – a known hub for illicit narcotics. There, they met with a supplier and secured a quantity of fentanyl, then began the return trip to flood Granite State streets.

Their operation didn’t last long. The New Hampshire State Police, patrolling the highway near Derry, conducted a traffic stop. A search revealed a package containing approximately 111 grams of pure fentanyl – enough to kill dozens, if not hundreds. Saint John initially denied involvement, but later confessed and entered a guilty plea on March 29, 2018. He was sentenced today to 46 months behind bars.

“This case highlights the all too familiar route by which fentanyl is introduced into New Hampshire,” stated U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray. “Dealers who choose to bring this lethal substance into our state should understand that they will be arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop the distribution of this deadly drug in the Granite State.” But critics question whether lengthy sentences are enough to disrupt the established networks.

The FBI, heavily involved in the investigation, sees the case as a critical win in a larger battle. “Fentanyl is one of the most lethal threats facing New Hampshire right now, and this case is just another example of what we’re doing to target the flow of illegal narcotics coming up from Lawrence, Massachusetts into our neighborhoods,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to do everything it can to work with our law enforcement partners to attack the sources of supply, and send a strong message to dealers that they will be caught.”

The investigation was a joint effort by the FBI, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Laconia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case. While Saint John is now off the streets, the supply chain remains, and the demand for fentanyl continues to drive a deadly black market. This conviction is a small victory in a long and brutal war.